Rio Ferdinand charged by FA with violent conduct against Hull

01-26-2010

Rio Ferdinand is facing a three-match ban and could miss Manchester United's top-of-the-table clash at Arsenal on Sunday after the Football Association charged him with violent conduct for a clash with the Hull City striker Craig Fagan.

Ferdinand struck out at Fagan during Manchester United's 4-0 defeat of Hull on Saturday, swinging his arm backwards and knocking his opponent to the floor in the penalty area.

The referee, Steve Bennett, missed the incident but has told the FA that he would have sent off Ferdinand had he not been following play elsewhere on the pitch. The FA requested television pictures from Sky and have now concluded that it was an act of deliberate violence.

Ferdinand has been given until 6pm tomorrow to admit or deny the offence and the FA will hear the case on Thursday.

If Ferdinand accepts the charge, or is found guilty, he will miss the game at Arsenal as well as the home match against Portsmouth on Saturday week and the trip to Aston Villa the following Wednesday.